07 Nov 2013
Mr Chairman
1 My delegation is pleased to align itself with the statements made by Fiji on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Indonesia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Nauru on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). We would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive reports under this agenda item.
Mr Chairman
2 We are at a critical juncture of our work in sustainable development. In all the three pillars – social, environmental, and economic – complex and serious challenges continue to persist. These challenges, paramount of which are the eradication of poverty and hunger, rapid urbanisation, widening inequalities, and global warming and the associated impacts of climate change, are spawning new difficulties quicker than we can address old ones. The pressing nature of these issues also means that the window of opportunity to address them in a manner that will enable us to secure the future we want and a life of dignity for all in the post-2015 world is quickly closing.
3 Fortunately, the window of opportunity has not yet closed irrevocably. At the landmark Rio+20 conference last year, the international community agreed on a finely-balanced outcome document that mandated a number of processes and institutions to guide our work on sustainable development. Over the past year, these processes have slowly but surely become operational. Building on this, we must now make full use of these various work streams and progress expeditiously in our work.
Mr Chairman
4 Singapore strongly supports the sentiment expressed in the outcome document from the President of the General Assembly’s ‘Special Event towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’ on 25 September 2013, of a coherent approach in crafting the post-2015 development agenda that builds on the MDGs and integrates in a balanced manner the three dimensions of sustainable development. In Singapore’s view, a single, clear framework for the post-2015 development agenda, with sustainable development at its core, is needed if it is to be effective and adaptable.
5 Singapore notes that the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-SDG) will continue its dialogue on potential SDGs until September next year. Though discussions at the OWG-SDG are still at an exploratory stage, my delegation views this as an important trust-building exercise that will enable us to move towards a common understanding of the various issues. Given our development experience, Singapore strongly advocates SDGs on sustainable cities and human settlements and oceans. In addition, we support an SDG or a robust target for sanitation, given the resolution that Singapore had tabled in July to designate 19 November as World Toilet Day.
6 However, as we proceed in our discussions within the OWG-SDG, we should not forget the important linkages between its work as well as the work of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Financing for Sustainable Development (ICSDF), and the need for consistency and synergy between the two working groups. Singapore welcomes the progress made in the discussions for sustainable development financing with the formation of the ICSDF, which held its first meeting in August. Though difficult, discussions on financing for sustainable development are necessary, as it is evident that work on implementing sustainable development will not be complete without a frank discussion on the means of implementation. Likewise, a serious discussion on options for a technology facilitation mechanism is incumbent upon us. As it will contribute to sustainable development, and spur science, innovation and competition, Singapore supports the establishment of a technology facilitation mechanism that is built on a robust intellectual property rights (IPR) regime.
7 Just last month, our leaders met at the inaugural session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As outlined in the Secretary-General’s report, the HLPF must continue to attract high-level decision-makers representing the different dimensions of sustainable development and realise the purpose of the institutional reform that member states envisioned at Rio+20. It should be a home for building synergies amongst the various Rio+20 follow-up processes as well as serve as the legitimate forum to discuss and coordinate our progress in these various processes.
Mr Chairman
8 As sustainable development means leaving no one and no country behind, least of all some of the smallest and most vulnerable, Singapore strongly supports the convening of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held in Samoa in 2014. At this session of the General Assembly, we urge the Second Committee to work closely and constructively on clarifying the modalities for the SIDS conference and how best we can support its preparatory process.
Mr Chairman
9 Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the MDGs, recently wrote in The Economist that, “In the next phase of global development, there will be no clear division between leaders and followers.”[1] The Special Advisor is right that we need a collective and integrated approach involving all member states and stakeholders if our future development is to be sustainable. At the same time, my delegation sees a clear leader responsible for driving progress on global sustainable development, and that is the institution of the United Nations, supported by this very Committee in which we now sit. On that note, let us get to work.
10 I thank you.
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[1] Jeffrey Sachs, “The Next Frontier,” The Economist, 21 September 2013.